Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 PACKAGING FOR FILMS WHICH CONTAIN ACTIVE SUBSTANCES,
2 AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING IT
3
The invention relates to packagings for active substance-containing films, in
particular
11
13 In drug therapy, in addition to the known forms of administration, such
as tablets,
26 On account of the active substance content of the active substance-
containing films, it is
32
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1 In an already known product (Theraflu , Novartis AG), an active
substance-containing
2 film strip is enclosed between a carrier layer and a covering layer which
are connected to one
3 another by means of sealing seams. Such a packaging (90) is illustrated
diagrammatically in a
4 top view in fig. 1. The two packaging material sheets (carrier layer and
covering layer) are
sealed to one another in the region of the hatched areas. The packaging has an
outer sealing
6 margin (92) and also a web (95) which subdivides the inner space of the
bag thus formed into
7 two compartments (93, 94). The first space (93) contains the packaged
active
8 substance-containing film strip (91), and the second space (94) is empty
and serves for forming
9 a child-proof tear-open aid. For this purpose, the packaging is provided,
in a region of the
sealed outer margin, with a perforation or punching (96) which is spaced apart
from the outer
11 margin. To open the packaging, the latter has to be bent along the line
(y), with the result that it
12 becomes possible to tear into the packaging along the line (x) which
runs through the surface
13 region of the second space (94). By the tearing in or tearing off,
freely accessible edges of the
14 carrier layer and covering layer are formed, which serve as a grasping
aid and which make it
possible to pull off the covering layer from the carrier layer, with the
result that the packaging
16 contents (91) become accessible. Impeding the opening operation as a
consequence of the
17 construction substantially contributes to making the packaging child-
proof.
18
19 However, the known packaging described above also has considerable
disadvantages.
Since the area required for forming the tear-open aid (94) is relatively large
and amounts to
21 approximately 30% of the area of the compartment (93) intended for
receiving the film strip, the
22 outlay in terms of material is too high in relation to the size of the
film strip to be packaged and
23 increases the production costs. The useful area (93) for enclosing the
packaged contents is too
24 low in relation to the overall area of the packaging and is
approximately 40%. This means not
only an increased consumption of material in production, but also an increased
space
26 requirement for storage.
27
28 In addition, in the packaging described above, the sealing seams, by
means of which the
29 carrier layer and covering layer are connected releasably to one
another, occupy a considerable
fraction of the overall area of the packaging, to be precise approximately
30%. The production
31 speed consequently has to be reduced correspondingly, thus resulting, in
turn, in an increase in
32 the production costs.
33
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1 The object of the present invention, therefore, was to provide a
packaging for active
2 substance-containing films and a production method suitable for this
purpose, while at the same
3 time this packaging is to allow a child-proof packaging of active
substance-containing films, but
4 with the abovementioned disadvantages being avoided or reduced. In
particular, the object was
to reduce the use of material, to increase the production speed and to allow a
better utilization
6 of the area of the packaging.
7
8 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
9 This object is achieved, according to the invention, by means of a
packaging for active
substance-containing films, which has a carrier layer and a covering layer
connected releasably
11 to the latter,
12
13 - the packaging having in a paired arrangement two opposite surface
regions which are
14 separated from one another by a web and within which the covering layer
is not connected to
the carrier layer, with the result that two spaces, separate from one another
and enclosed on all
16 sides, for receiving said films in pairs are formed;
17
18 - within said web, a further surface region being present, in which the
carrier layer is not
19 connected to the covering layer, with the result that a cavity enclosed
on all sides is formed;
21 - at least one perforation line being present within the web.
22
23 Owing to the paired arrangement of two opposite spaces for receiving the
active
24 substance-containing film strips, an optimal utilization of the overall
area of the packaging and,
consequently, a reduction in the consumption of material are brought about. By
the further
26 surface region which forms the tear-open aid being arranged in the
region of the web of the
27 double packaging, the area required for this purpose is reduced in
relation to the surface
28 regions which are intended for accommodating the packaged contents.
Furthermore, the
29 arrangement according to the invention of said surface regions makes it
possible for the sealing
seams which connect the covering layer to the carrier layer in the region of
the web to have a
31 substantially narrower form than the peripheral sealing seam at the
outer margin of the
32 packaging. Overall, a reduction in the surfaces to be connected by
sealing is thereby achieved,
33 so that higher production speeds become possible. In addition, the
packaging according to the
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1 invention also has features which, in a similar way to the known product
described above, allow
2 the child-proof packaging of active substance-containing products.
3
4 By active substance-containing films being packaged in pairs, double the
number of
active substance-containing films can be packaged in a predetermined duration
of the sealing
6 operation. This results in an additional increase in the production
speed.
7
8 The packagings according to the invention are suitable particularly for
the paired
9 packaging of those active substance-containing films which, because of
the type or dose of
active substance or active substances contained in them, are, as a rule,
extracted from the
11 packaging simultaneously or in succession at a short time interval. This
situation often arises,
12 for example, in the case of analgesics when, because of the intensity of
the pain, it is necessary
13 to administer a double dose. Moreover, the packagings according to the
invention may be used,
14 in particular, for the paired packaging of films which contain different
active substances and
which are extracted in each case in pairs from the packaging for the purpose
of administering
16 an active substance combination.
17
18 Packaging materials consisting of paper, cardboard, plastic films (for
example,
19 polyethylene, polyethyleneterephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene,
cellophane, polyam ides,
polycarbonates, ethylene vinylacetate copolymer), and metal foils (for
example, aluminum foil)
21 and also composite materials composed of said materials may be
considered for producing the
22 carrier layer and the covering layer. A further preferred film material
is Barex (BP Chemicals), a
23 copolymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene. On account of its good barrier
properties and chemical
24 resistance, it is suitable particularly for the packaging of drugs
having a content of aggressive
and/or volatile active substances, for example nicotine.
26
27 In order to rule out an unauthorized or inadvertent destruction of the
packaging by
28 tearing apart, pointed articles, etc., it is necessary for each of the
two packaging material
29 components (carrier layer, covering layer) to have a sufficient tear
strength (for example,
according to DIN 53455 or EN-ISO 527). Materials suitable for this purpose are
known to a
31 person skilled in the art. The thickness of the carrier layer and of the
covering layer is preferably
32 in the range of 0.01 to 2 mm, in particular of 0.05 to 0.5 mm. In a
preferred embodiment of the
33 invention, the carrier layer of the packaging has a higher thickness
than the covering layer.
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1
2 The carrier layer and covering layer may be produced from the same
materials or from
3 different types of materials. Preferably, at least one of the two
packaging material fractions
4 (carrier layer, covering layer) consists of transparent material (for
example, transparent plastic
film).
6 Furthermore, the invention embraces embodiments in which one packaging
material
7 fraction or both packaging material fractions is or are colored
identically or differently in a
8 coloring which in each case may be transparent or opaque.
9
For example the carrier sheet may be produced from a non-transparent composite
11 material consisting of paper (or cardboard) with plastics (for example,
with polyethylene- or
12 polyethyleneterephthalate-coated papers), and the covering layer may be
produced from a
13 transparent colorless or colored plastic film. To reduce permeability to
air, to light and to water
14 vapor, it is advantageous if at least one surface of the carrier layer
and/or of the covering layer
is metallized (for example, coated with aluminum).
16
17 The packaging according to the invention can be produced in the most
diverse possible
18 geometric shapes (for example, rectangle, trapezium, ellipse) and in
different dimensions. The
19 surface extent is generally dependent on the size of the packaged
contents (for example,
wafers) and is usually in the range of 10 to 100 cm2. The size of the first
surface region for
21 receiving the packaged contents can likewise be varied within wide
ranges, depending on the
22 surface extent of the articles to be packaged. The carrier sheet and
covering layer may have an
23 identical shape and size; however, embodiments are also provided in
which the covering layer
24 has a smaller size than the carrier layer and/or a geometric shape
deviating from the carrier
layer.
26
27 The carrier layer is connected releasably to the covering layer,
specifically such that the
28 covering layer can be pulled off from the carrier layer by means of
finger force and without the
29 aid of implements, as is known from other peelable packagings.
31 The releasable connection between the covering layer and carrier layer
is preferably
32 made by sealing or welding; suitable means and methods for generating
sealing seams or
33 sealing surfaces are known to a person skilled in the art. The seal
serves as a diffusion and
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1 permeation barrier and is generally impermeable to active substances and
atmospheric
2 humidity. Both hot-sealing methods and cold-sealing methods may be
considered. The material
3 used for sealing layers may be, for example, hot-melt adhesives
(hotmelts; for example based
4 on polyethylene LD), sealing lacquers, sealing dispersions or adhesives.
6 The releasable connection is preferably made by hot sealing at
temperatures in the
7 range of between 50QC and 2005C, in particular 50 to 905C, using hot
melts.
8
9 The sealing seams or sealing surfaces preferably have a strength (=
sealing strength) in
the range of 1 N/15 mm to 50 N/15 mm, preferably 2 N/15 mm to 20 N/15 mm.
11
12 The carrier layer and covering layer are preferably connected to one
another over the
13 entire area, with the exception of said surface regions. In the region
of the web, the two
14 packaging material sheets (carrier layer and covering layer) are sealed
to one another, with the
exception of that region which forms the tear-open aid. The web runs
essentially perpendicularly
16 with respect to the longitudinal direction of the packaging.
17
18 As mentioned, the type of design according to the invention makes it
possible to utilize
19 the overall area of the packaging in a particularly beneficial way.
According to a preferred
embodiment of the invention, said surface regions are selected such that the
sum of the areas
21 of the two opposite surface regions which form the spaces for receiving
said films corresponds
22 to at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, of the overall area of the
packaging. Furthermore, it is
23 preferable that the area of said further surface region amounts to no
more than 50%, preferably
24 no more than 20%, particularly preferably no more than 15%, of the sum
of the areas of the two
opposite surface regions which form the spaces for receiving said films.
26
27 The two opposite surface regions which are arranged in pairs and which
form the spaces
28 for receiving said films preferably have the same size and the same
geometric shape. For
29 specific applications, however, it may be advantageous to configure
these two surface regions
differently.
31
32 With a view to as efficient a manufacture as possible, it is
particularly advantageous if
33 the two opposite surface regions which form the spaces for receiving
said films have the same
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1 size and the same geometric shape and are arranged symmetrically with
respect to the
2 longitudinal direction of the packaging, and if the width of the web
located between the two
3 surface regions corresponds to double the width of the margin which runs
between an end-face
4 outer margin of the packaging and the contiguous surface region which is
intended for receiving
said film. The result of this is that, during manufacture, a virtually uniform
spacing between the
6 respectively adjacent active substance-containing films (with respect to
the longitudinal direction
7 of the packagings) can be maintained. As a result, the production process
is substantially
8 simpler, and higher process speeds become possible. Moreover, a
substantially uniform product
9 spread in the longitudinal direction is thereby possible. If required,
the spacing between the
respectively adjacent active substance-containing films may also be set
exactly uniformly, thus
1-1 resulting in a maximum manufacturing speed.
12
13 Furthermore, said surface regions are preferably so dimensioned and
arranged in such a
14 way that the sum of the surface regions in which the covering layer is
connected to the carrier
layer amounts to no more than 25%, preferably no more than 20%. The time
required for the
16 sealing operation can thus be reduced. The product stability of the
packaged films is ensured by
17 the sealing seam running along the outer margin of the packaging. The
width of said sealing
18 seam preferably amounts to at least 3 mm, in particular at least 5 mm.
For the sealing margins
19 which run in the region of the web and which separate the first or the
second surface region
from said further surface region, a width of 1.5 to 2 mm is sufficient for
ensuring that the
21 packaged contents are protected.
22
23 According to a preferred embodiment, the packaging according to the
invention is
24 constructed in such a way that, between each of the two surface regions,
which form the
spaces, enclosed on all sides, for receiving said films, and the respectively
adjacent outer
26 margin of the packaging, there is a region within which the carrier
layer is connected to the
27 covering layer and which has a width of 3 to 7 mm, preferably 4-5 mm.
28
29 To form a tear-open aid, in the packagings according to the invention
there is, within said
web, a further surface region in which the carrier layer is not connected to
the covering layer,
31 with the result that a cavity enclosed on all sides is formed. The
latter serves merely for forming
32 a grasping and tear-open aid and is not intended for the reception of
active
33 substance-containing films.
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1
2 Said further surface region is preferably of elongate shape. According
to a preferred
3 embodiment, said further surface region is provided with a wavy or
sawtooth-shaped contour,
4 thus making the peeling or pulling-off operation easier. This is
advantageous particularly when
the grasping aid formed after the tearing of the perforation is relatively
short.
6
7 As mentioned, at least one perforation line is present within the web.
This perforation
8 line is preferably designed such that it runs in the direction of said
further surface region. By
9 tearing into the carrier layer and covering layer at the perforation line
and by subsequently
continuing to tear, said second surface region is divided approximately into
two halves. Severing
11 the two layers of the packaging gives rise to free edges which can serve
as a tear-open aid, as
12 described above. Thus, when the packaging is being torn into, a tear-
open aid is generated for
13 each of the two spaces in which the active substance-containing films
are enclosed.
14
Said perforation line may be generated in a known way, for example by
punching. In
16 addition to such perforation lines, other types of weakening lines may
also be considered, in so
17 far as they make it possible to tear into the packaging. The perforation
line is preferably
18 designed such that the finger force required for severing can easily be
applied by adult persons,
19 but generally not by small children.
21 The child-proof facility is achieved in that, to open the packaging, at
least three
22 co-ordinated manual actions are required: (i) bending the packaging in
the marginal region in
23 order to make the perforation line accessible; (ii) tearing into and
continuing to tear the
24 perforation, and (iii) gripping the free edges thus generated, as a
grasping aid (or grasping tab),
and pulling the carrier layer and covering layer apart.
26
27 Structures particularly suitable for making it possible to tear into the
element or elements
28 of the packaging material are: straight cuts; serrated or wavy cuts;
perforations, in particular
29 perforations consisting of dots arranged one behind the other, and/or
cuts; material clearances;
punchings, in particular arrow-shaped, triangular or lozenge-shaped punchings;
predetermined
31 breaking points or embossed lines.
32
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1 In order to make said operation of folding or bending the packaging
easier, it is
2 advantageous to provide the packaging with a folding line or bending
line, for example by
3 embossing or pinching. Methods suitable for this purpose are known to a
person skilled in the
4 art.
6 Said folding line or bending line is preferably arranged such that it
runs in the
7 longitudinal direction of the packaging and touches or intersects, for
example at right angles,
8 said perforation line. The tearing-in operation is thereby made
considerably easier, without the
9 child-proof facility of the packaging being impaired.
11 This is important particularly with regard to the intended use of the
packaging by older
12 persons, since, even in this case, it is necessary to ensure that the
packaging can be opened
13 without the aid of implements or other aids, and that opening is
possible within a short time and
14 without frustrating attempts.
16 The perforation line or perforation lines or at least one of the
perforation lines is/are
17 formed preferably both in the carrier layer and in the covering layer,
in order to make simple and
18 reliable tearing possible.
19
As regards the position of the perforation lines, it is preferable that the
perforation line or
21 perforation lines or at least one of the perforation lines is/are
arranged in the region which is
22 located between the outer margin of the packaging and said further
surface region. In order to
23 ensure the desired child-proof facility, the perforation line or
perforation lines should preferably
24 not reach as far as the outer margin of the packaging.
26 According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is provision
for the
27 perforation line or perforation lines or at least one of the perforation
lines not to reach as far as
28 said further surface region which is intended for forming the tear-open
aid.
29
Alternatively, according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention,
there is
31 provision for the perforation line or perforation lines or at least one
of the perforation lines to
32 reach as far as said further surface region or to extend into this.
Further, it may be
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1 advantageous to design the perforation line such that it runs completely
through said further
2 surface region, preferably centrally.
3
4 On account of the design features described above, the packaging
according to the
invention is suitable for the child-proof packaging of active substance-
containing films. The
6 invention therefore embraces child-proof non-reclosable packagings having
the
7 above-described features. In particular, the present invention embraces
packagings of the
8 above-described type, which are distinguished in that they are child-
proof according to DIN EN
9 14375 and/or according to ASTM D3475-03a.
11 The packagings according to the invention are suitable for the
packaging, in particular
12 child-proof packaging, of active substance-containing films of the type
described initially. Active
13 substances which may be considered are, in addition to said
pharmaceutical active substances,
14 also cosmetic active substances, flavorings and aromatics, nutrients,
vitamins, diagnostic
reagents, toxins and active substances which are used in plant protection or
pest control.
16
17 The invention provides, furthermore, a method for the packaging of
active
18 substance-containing films, the method having the following steps:
19
- provision of a carrier layer;
21
22 - positioning of two active substance-containing films in a paired
arrangement on the
23 carrier layer;
24
- covering of the carrier layer and of the active substance-containing films
located on it
26 with a covering layer;
27
28 - connection of the carrier layer and covering layer by means of a
releasable connection,
29 specifically in such a way that the two surface regions which enclose
the active
substance-containing films are surrounded completely by a marginal region in
which the carrier
31 layer is connected to the covering layer. As a result, two spaces, which
are enclosed on all
32 sides and contain the two films to be packaged, and also a web lying
between these spaces,
33 are formed. The connection of the carrier layer and covering layer takes
place in such a way
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1 that the packaging has, in the region of the web present between said two
surface regions, a
2 further surface region in which the carrier layer is not connected to the
covering layer;
3
4 - generation of at least one perforation line within the web. This
perforation line is
preferably designed in such a way that it runs in the direction of said
further surface region.
6
7 According to a preferred embodiment, the method is carried out in such a
way that the
8 two opposite surface regions which form the spaces for receiving said
films have the same size
9 and the same geometric shape and are arranged symmetrically. Furthermore,
the web located
between the two surface regions is designed in such a way that its width
corresponds to double
11 the width of that margin which runs between an end-face outer margin of
the packaging and the
12 contiguous surface region which is intended for receiving said film.
13
14 Thus, in one aspect, the invention provides a packaging for active
substance-containing
films, which has a carrier layer and a covering layer connected releasably to
the latter, wherein:
16
17 - the packaging has in a paired arrangement two opposite surface regions
which are
18 separated from one another by a web and within which the covering layer
is not
19 connected to the carrier layer, with the result that two spaces,
separate from one
another and enclosed on all sides, for receiving the films in pairs are
formed;
21
22 - within the web, a further surface region is present, in which the
carrier layer is not
23 connected to the covering layer, with the result that a cavity enclosed
on all sides is
24 formed;
26 - at least one perforation line is present within the web, wherein the
perforation line does
27 not extend as far as the outer margin of the packaging, and wherein the
sum of the
28 surface regions in which the covering layer is connected to the carrier
layer amounts to
29 no more than 25%.
31 According to another aspect, the invention provides a method for the
packaging of active
32 substance-containing films, the method comprising:
33
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1 - providing a carrier layer;
2
3 - positioning two active substance-containing films in a paired
arrangement on the
4 carrier layer;
6 - covering the carrier layer, and the active substance-containing films
located on the
7 carrier layer, with a covering layer;
8
9 - releasably connecting the carrier layer to the covering layer for
forming two spaces that
are enclosed on all sides and which contain the two active substance-
containing films,
11 and a web between the two spaces, whereby two surface regions are formed
enclosing
12 the active substance-containing films, the two surface regions being
surrounded
13 completely by a marginal region in which the carrier layer is connected
to the covering
14 layer;
16 - providing a further surface region, in the region of the web between
the two surface
17 regions, in which the carrier layer is not connected to the covering
layer;
18
19 - generating at least one perforation line within the web, wherein the
perforation line
does not extend as far as the outer margin of the packaging;
21
22 - wherein the sum of the surface regions in which the covering layer is
connected to the
23 carrier layer is 25% or less.
24
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
26 The features, details and advantages of the invention are explained by
way of example
27 below by means of the embodiments illustrated diagrammatically in the
drawings. The
28 illustrations in the drawings do not necessarily reproduce the actual
size proportions.
29
Fig 1 shows an active substance-containing packaging as known in the art.
31
32 Fig. 2A shows a packaging (10) according to the invention in a top view.
33
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1 Fig. 2B shows a section in the plane (a) of fig. 2A.
2
3 Fig. 3A, 3B, 30 and 3D show further embodiments of the packaging
according to the
4 invention in a top view.
6 Fig. 4 shows, likewise in a top view, two packagings arranged one behind
the other in
7 the longitudinal direction, in the state during production.
8
9 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Fig. 2A shows a packaging (10) having a rectangular horizontal projection,
which is
11 constructed from a covering layer (7) and a carrier layer lying beneath
the latter and connected
12 to the covering layer (see fig. 2B). The covering layer is illustrated
transparently in fig. 2A.
13
14 The packaging has a first surface region (3) and a second surface region
(3'), within
which the covering layer is not connected to the carrier layer. Within the
surface regions (3, 3'),
16 are located the packaged active substance-containing films (1, 1'). The
covering layer (7) has
17 the same geometric shape and size as the carrier layer lying beneath it
and is connected to the
18 latter over the entire area and releasably, that is to say peelably
(hatched regions), with the
19 exception of the first and the second surface region (3, 3').
21 The two surface regions (3, 3') are surrounded completely by a margin in
which the
22 covering foil (7) is connected to the carrier layer. Between the first
surface region (3) and the
23 second surface region (3') is located a web (5), in the region of which
the covering foil is
24 likewise connected to the carrier layer. Within the web (5), and in each
case spaced apart from
the surface regions (3, 3'), a further surface region (4) is located, within
which the covering foil
26 (7) is not connected to the carrier foil and which serves for forming a
grasping and tear-open
27 aid.
28 In the region of the web (5), two weakening lines in the form of
perforation lines (6, 6')
29 are formed, specifically spaced apart from the outer margin and from the
further surface region
(4). The perforation lines run perpendicularly with respect to the
longitudinal direction of the
31 packaging (line a), in the same way as the elongate surface region (4),
and are arranged
32 centrally with respect to this surface region.
33
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1 The packaging has, furthermore, a bending line (b) which runs in the
longitudinal
2 direction and which runs in a lateral marginal region and touches the
perforation line (6').
3
4 A second bending line (b') may optionally be provided. After the outer
margin of the
packaging has been bent round along the bending line (b or b'), the packaging
can be torn into
6 along one of the perforation lines (6, 6'), and the covering foil and
carrier foil are divided in the
7 region of the surface region (4) into two halves of approximately equal
size. The free edges,
8 formed by the tear, of the covering layer and carrier layer can then be
used as grasping and
9 tear-open aids, in order to detach the two layers from one another and
making it possible to
extract the active substance-containing films (1, 1').
11
12 For example, the packaging shown in fig. 2A has a length of 96 mm and a
width of 42
13 mm. The sealing seam surrounding the first and the second surface region
is 5 mm wide, so
14 that each of these surface regions has a size of 32 x 32 mm. The active
substance-containing
films (1, 1') to be packaged have in this example a size of approximately 22 x
22 mm. The
16 surface region (4) lying in the region of the web has, as regards its
elongate shape, a width of
17 10 mm and is separated from the adjacent surface regions (3, 3') by a 5
mm wide sealing seam,
18 so that the overall width of the web amounts to 20 mm in this example.
When the packaging is
19 being opened, a grasping aid with a length of approximately 5 to 5.5 mm
(with respect to the
longitudinal direction of the packaging) is formed from the surface region (4)
for each of the two
21 packaged films.
22
23 Fig. 2B shows a section in the plane (a) of fig. 2A. The packaging is
constructed from a
24 carrier layer (8) and a covering layer (7). The two layers are connected
releasably to one
another in the regions designated by arrows. In the region of the surface
regions (3, 3'), the two
26 layers are not connected to one another and form spaces (3a, 3a') for
receiving the active
27 substance-containing films (1, 1'). In the region of the surface region
(4), a cavity (4a) is formed
28 by the layers not connected to one another.
29
Fig. 3A shows a modification of the packaging shown in fig. la, the further
surface
31 region (4) being in the shape of an elongate polygon, and the two
opposite perforations (6, 6'),
32 which run approximately perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal
direction of the
33 packaging, reaching as far as this surface region (4).
22293541.2 14
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1
2 Fig. 3B shows a further modification of the packaging shown in fig. 1A,
the perforations
3 (6, 6') being prolonged into the inner space of the further surface
region (4).
4
The width (n) of the sealing seam which delimits the surface region (4) with
respect to
6 the surface regions (3, 3') may be smaller than the width of the sealing
seams which close off
7 the surface regions (3, 3') toward the outer margin of the packaging.
Assuming the dimensions
8 given by way of example in fig. 2A, the width (n) may amount, for
example, to 2 mm. This
9 makes it possible to increase the width of the surface region (4) (with
respect to its longitudinal
direction) (for example, 25 mm), so that the grasping aids emanating from it
are larger and can
11 be gripped more readily.
12
13 Fig. 3C shows a further modification of the packaging shown in fig. 1A,
the perforation
14 line (6) running completely through the inner space of the further
surface region (4).
16 Fig. 3D shows a further modification of the packaging shown in fig. 1A,
the surface
17 region (4) which lies in the region of the web (5) having a serrated or
wavy contour. The
18 perforation line (6) formed in the web region is located in the region
between the outer edge of
19 the packaging and the surface region (4).
21 Fig. 4 shows two successive packagings (10, 20) of the type shown in
fig. 3B during
22 production. The two opposite surface regions which form the spaces for
receiving the films (3,
23 3'; 3a, 3a') are essentially the same size with the same geometric shape
and are arranged
24 symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal direction (arrow 1). The
web located between the
two surface regions is designed in such a way that its width D corresponds to
double the width d
26 of the margin which runs between an end-face outer margin of the
packaging and the
27 contiguous surface region which is intended for receiving said film.
28
29 What is thereby achieved is that the active substance-containing films
(3, 3'; 3a, 3a') can
be packaged with a substantially uniform spacing L.
31
32 For example, each of the packagings shown in fig. 4 has a length of 88
mm and a width
33 of 42 mm. The sealing seam surrounding the first and the second surface
region is 5 mm wide
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1 toward the outer margins of the packaging. The width of the sealing seam
which in the region of
2 the web (5) delimits the surface region (4) with respect to the surface
regions (3, 3') is smaller
3 than the width of the sealing seams which close off the surface regions
(3, 3') toward the outer
4 margin of the packaging and amounts to 1.5 to 2 mm. The elongate surface
region (4) has a
width of approximately 10 mm, so that, when the packaging is being opened, a
grasping aid with
6 a length of approximately 5 to 5.5 mm (with respect to the longitudinal
direction of the
7 packaging) is formed for each of the two packaged films. The surface
region (4) is
8 advantageously shaped as in fig. 3D.
9
Each of the surface regions (3, 3') has a size of approximately 3 x 3 cm, and
in this
11 example the active substance-containing films (1, 1') to be packaged are
a size of
12 approximately 22 x 22 mm. In the described arrangement of the surface
regions and of the
13 sealing seams, the sealing seam width to be overcome by diffusion
amounts to at least 5 mm
14 between the inner spaces of the packaging and the surroundings, thus
ensuring product stability
as long as the packaging is unopened.
16
17 The invention advantageously makes it possible to reduce the material
consumption and
18 to increase the production speed in the production of child-proof
packagings for active
19 substance-containing films.
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